Electrical switch



June 1, 1948.

c. A. Fox

ELECTRICAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 23, 1944 lNVENTOR- ATTORNEY.

June 1 1 948. 6:. A. Fox

' ELEC'IIRICAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Filed Aug. 23, 1944 I mvzma- CHARLES. ADIN FOX ATTORNEY.

Patented June 1 1943 ELECTRICAL SWITCH Charles Adin Fox, Oakland Village, Mo., assignor to James R. Kearney Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application August 23, 1944, Serial No. 550,721

This invention relates generally to electrical fuse switches and more specifically to electrical fuse switches of the general type disclosed by United States Letters Patent No. 2,086,028, issued July 6, 1937, the predominant object of the invention being to provide a fuse switch of the general type disclosed by the patent referred to above, which is provided with an auxiliary disconnect blade that is so related to the associated parts of the switch, and is so operable, that the spaced contacts to which a fuse link is applied when the switch is being re-fused, may be completely isolated electrically from the circuit, with which the switch is associated, and rendered electrically dead, so that arcing at said contacts is completely eliminated during the switch re-fusing operation.

In the use of a fuse switch constructed in accordance with the patent referred to above, practically no arcing is produced when the switch is being re-fused, if the re-fusing operation is performed in the proper manner. However, under certain circumstances, due, for instance, to inexperience of the lineman performing the re-fusing operation, or a too hurried, or careless, performance of the re-fusing operation, some arcing may be produced at the upper contact of the switch when the fuse link is being applied thereto. In order to render the fuse switch of the patent referred to above completely foolproof, and to eliminate any likelihood whatever that arcing may be produced at the upper contact of the switch during re-fusing of the switch, the switch of the patent referred to above has been improved in accordance with the present invention so as to provide such a switch with an auxiliary disconnect blade which serves during the re-fusing operation to completely isolate the spaced contacts of the switch from the circuit with which the switch is associated, and render said spaced contacts dead, electrically. because the spaced contacts of the switch are dead, electrically, there can be no arcing at the upper contact of the switch during re-fusing thereof, even though the re-fusing operation be performed by an inexperienced lineman, or in a hurried or careless manner.

Another important feature of the invention disclosed herein is that the improved switch con- 6 Claims. (01. 200-414) undisturbed, in its normal, effective position with respect to the switch parts with which said fuse link is operably associated, during such operation of the improved switch as a discomiect switch, and the auxiliary disconnect blade serving on appropriate operation thereof to interrupt or complete the electrical path through the switch.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved switch, showing same in a fused condition and with the auxiliary disconnect blade of the switch in its closed position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the improved switch as it is illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical section of the lower portion of the switch, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for purposes of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improved switch generally. The switch A includes a supporting insulator I to which is fixed a suitable supporting bracket 2, said bracket providing means for mounting. the switch on a pole cross-arm, or other support, by which the switch is to be supported.

Mounted at the upper end of the insulator l is a terminal 3 which includes a lower portion 3 of substantially semi-circular shape, said semicircular terminal portion being arranged in embracing relation with respect to substantially onehalf of the upper portion of the insulator I. The semi-circular portion 3 of the upper terminal 3 is provided with opposed lugs 4 which are formed thereon and extend outwardly therefrom, said lugs being apertured to receive end portions of an arcuate rod 5 which embraces. a part of the insulator I, as is shown in Fig. 1. The end portions of the arcuate rod 5 are screwthreaded and have nuts mounted thereon which are drawn up to engage the lugs 4 of the terminal part 3 and draw the arcuate rod into tight, clamping engagement with the insulator portion with which it contacts so as to securely clamp the terminal 3 to the insulator l. The terminal 3 includes a block 6 which is located immediately above the semi-circular terminal portion 3, and extended upwardly from said terminal block is an elongated eye I, said eye having a suitable electrical connector 8 mounted on a leg portion thereof which serves to mechanically and electrically the terminal block contacts, a bolt H being employed for securing said terminal block to the insulator. The block ID of the terminal Q'has formed integral therewith, and extended downwardly therefrom, an elongated eye I2, 2. suitable is employed, the shank of said bolt being extended through the inverted U-shaped portion 26 of said electrical connector [3 being mounted on a leg portion of said eye which serves to mechanically and electrically connect to said terminal eye an outgoing electrical conductor (not shown).

Secured to the block 6 of the upper contact 3 of the switch A is an upper contact M which comprises a substantially L-shaped rear contact portion i5, said rear contact portion being provided with a vertically extended portion [5a that is disposed in contact with the forward face of the block 6 of the upper terminal 3 and is secured thereto by a bolt I6, and a substantial horizontal portion [5b which extends forwardly from the lower end of said vertical portion I5a of said contact portion.

Associated with the rear contact portion l5 of the upper contact 14 and extended forwardly therefrom is a forward contact portion which comprises a pair of substantially parallel lengths of resilient wire, or rod material, l1, whose rear end portions are fixedy engaged by the rear contact portion I4. At their forward end the lengths of resilient wire or rod material are bent outwardly and rearwardly upon themselves for a short distance to provide opposed crotch-like fuse linkgripping portions, as indicated at I8 in Fig. 3, the rear portions of said outwardly and rearwardly bent portions being flared outwardly, as indicated at Hi, to facilitate introduction of portions of the fuse link into the crotch-like fuse link gripping portions l8 of the contact. At the outer end of the forward contact portion of the upper contact [4 a cap I9 is applied thereto which embraces the outwardly and rearwardly bent portions so as to prevent undue spreading thereof. Also at a point immediately adjacent to the forward end of the rear contact portion l5, a sleeve is arranged in embracing relation with respect to portions of the substantially parallel contact portions I! so as to maintain these contact portions in their proper related positions.

Supported by the insulator l at a point spaced upwardly from the lower terminal 9 is amember 2!, which when Viewed in plan, as is shown in Fig. 3, is seen to include a curved portion which contacts with the insulator and which is provided at its opposite ends with apertured lugs 22. The member 2! is secured to the insulator by an arcuate rod 23 which embraces a portion of the insulator, the opposite end portions of said arcuate rod being screwthreaded and being extended through the apertured lugs 22 of said member 2i and nuts being applied thereto which engage the forward faces of the lugs and draw the arcuate rod into tight, clamping engagement with the insulator. The member 2| is provided with a centrally located, forwardly projected extension 24, which preferably, though not necessarily is formed integral with said member.

Supported by the member 2| is a lower contact 25 which is formed from a length of resilient wire, or rod material, said length of material being provided at its rear end with an inverted U -shaped portion 26 which is arranged in contact with the forward face of the extension 24 of the member 2A. .In order to secure the lower contact 25 to the extension 24 of the member 21, a bolt 27 lower contact and being screwed into a screwthreaded opening formed in said extension, and a'washer 28 being interposed between the head 'of the bolt and the inverted U-shaped portion of the lower contact.

The lower contact 25 includes portions .29 which'extend forwardly, in substantial parallelism, from the lower portions 4 of the inverted U-shaped portion 26 thereof, and at their outer ends these parallel, forwardly extended portions 29 are bent outwardly and merge into the centers of spaced coils 30 which are formed in the material of the lower contact. The spaced coiled portions 30 of the lower contact provide said lower contact with the resiliency required for the performance of its intended function, and extended forwardly from the outer portions of said coiled portions is a pair of spaced, substantially parallel, contact portions 3|, said contact portions 3|, at their forward ends, merging into convergent portions 32, which in turn merge into parallel, closely related, forward contact portions 33. At their forward ends the contact portions 33 are bent outwardly and rearwardly upon themselves to provide opposed crotch-like fuse link gripping portions 34, the rear portions of the outwardly and rearwardly bent contact portions being flared, as indicated at 35, to facilitate introduction of fuse link portions into the gripping portions 34. The forward end portion of the lower contact 25 has applied thereto a cap 36 which prevents undue spreading of the outwardly and rearwardly bent portions, and, also, sleeves 31 are arranged in embracing relation with respect to parts of the lower contact so as to retain said contact parts in their proper positions.

When the switch A is in a fused condition, a fuse link F is applied to the contacts I4 and 25, as is shown to the best advantage in Fig. 1. The fuse link F comprises a pair of flexible cables F and F which are joined by a suitable fusible section (not shown), said fusible section of the fuse link, and adjacent portions of the cables F and F being embraced by a tube F formed of suitable electrical insulating material. At the outer ends of the cables F and F the fuse link F is provided with eyes F and Fiwhich are suitably secured to said cables,

In applying the fuse link F to the contacts l4 and 25, a portion of the cable F is drawn into one of the fuse link gripping portions 34 of the lower contact 25, whereby said fuse link cable F is firmly engaged by the lower contact 25, and the fuse link is then elevated sufliciently to permit a portion of the cable F thereof to be drawn into one of the fuse link gripping portions [8 of the upper contact [4 so as to securely engage said fuse link cable with said upper contact l4. When the fuse link is being elevated as described the outer portion of the lower contact 25 will also be elevated, because the cable F of the fuse link F is engaged by said lower contact, and such upward movement of the outer end of the lower contact will result in the coiled portions 30 thereof being subjected to winding action which will place the lower contact under tension. Thus, the intact fuse link holds the outer end portion of the lower contact 25 in its elevated position against the forces stored up in the coiled portions of said lower contact which tend to move said outer portion of said lower contact downwardly, and when the fuse link is ruptured by an electrical fault in the circuit with which the switch is associated, the freed outer end of the lower contact 25 snaps downwardly to separate the fuse link and interrupt the circuit.

As has been previously stated herein, the improved switch A includes an auxiliary disconnect blade B which is operable to interrupt and complete the current path through the switch without disturbing the fuse link, and for electrically isolating the contacts l4 and 25 from the circuit with which the switch is associated, when it is desired to re-fuse the switch. The auxiliary disconnect blade B is composed of a pair of lengths 38 of resilient wire, or rod material, which are arranged substantially parallel in slightly spaced relation, as is shown to good advantage in Fig. 2. at the lower ends of these lengths of material, extensions 39 thereof are projected laterally in opposite directions, and continuations 40 of said extensions 39 are projected rearwardly (see Fig. 1). At their rear ends the rearwardly projected continuations 40 are provided with short portions 4| which extend inwardly toward each other. The short portions 4| of the lengths of material 38 of the auxiliary blade B serve as trunnions which are seated in openings that are formed in the eye 12 of the lower terminal 9 and which are open at the opposite side edges of said eye, whereby the auxiliary disconnect blade is supported by the lower terminal 9 for pivotal movement. The auxiliary disconnect blade B is provided with an eye 42 which may be engaged by a suitable tool when it is desired to open or close the disconnect blade, said eye comprising a length of wire or other suitable material which is shaped to provide a ring-like portion and which includes extensions that project from said ring-like portion and which extend parallel with the spaced portions 38 of the disconnect blade in interposed.

relation with respect thereto. The length of material which provides the eye 42 is secured in place by sleeves 43 which embrace and tightly engage the extensions of the eye and the parts of the portions 38 of the disconnect blade between which said eye extensions are disposed.

Secured in assembled relation with the lower terminal 9 is a contact 44 into and out of electrical contact with which a lower portion of the auxiliary disconnect blade B is movable. The contact 44 comprises a length of resilient wire, or rod material, which is bent in an inverted U- shaped formation, this U-shaped portionbf the contact 44 contacting with the forward face of the lower terminal 9 and being secured mechanically and electrically to said lower terminal by the bolt H, previously described herein as serving to secure the lower terminal 9 to the insulator l. The shank of the bolt H passes through the U-shaped portion of the contact 44, and a washer is interposed between the head of the bolt and the U-shaped portion of said contact, and at the lower portion of the inverted u-shaped portion of the contact 44, parallel and forwardly projected contact extensions 45 are provided, which, at their outer ends, are bent upwardly and rearwardly as indicated at 46.

By referring to Fig. '2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the upwardly and rearwardly bent portions 46 of the contact 44 are not disposed in true vertical and parallel positions, but, instead, said contact portions 46 are inclined upwardly and inwardly from their lower portions so as to dispose the rearwardly bent parts of said contact portions 46 in closer relation than are the contact extensions 45 and the lower portions of said contact portions 45. By so arranging the upwardly and rearwardly bent portions 46 of the contact 44, a lower portion of the disconnect blade moves freely between the opposed lower parts of said contact portion 46, as said disconnect blade moves upwardly and inwardly from its lowered, open position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, toward its raised, closed position, and this lower portion of the disconnect blade engages and spreads apart the rearwardly bent parts of said contact portion 46 so that said rearwardly extended contact parts engage the blade with considerable pressure to provide good electrical contact between said rearwardly bent parts of the contact portion 46 and adjacent parts of the disconnect blade. When the disconnect blade is moved to its raised, closed position the upper parts of the spaced, parallel, pair of lengths 38 of resilient material, pass between the forwardly extended portions 29 of the lower contact 25 so as to be forced inwardly, slightly, toward each other, and as a result thereof the upper parts of the spaced lengths of resilient material will bear with such pressure against the portions 29 of the contact 25 as to provide good electrical connection between said parts.

When, in the use of the improved switch a fault occurs in the circuit with which the switch is electrically associated, which is of sufficient intensity to rupture the fuse link F, the fuse link blows and the tensioned coiled portions 30 of the lower contact snap the outer portion of said lower contact 25 downwardly and outwardly, to completely separate the separated parts of the fuse link and thereby interrupt the circuit. To replace the circuit in service it is necessary to re-fuse the switch by substituting for the ruptured fuse link an intact fuse link. This may be done in the use of the switch of the present invention by moving the auxiliary disconnect blade B to its open position, as is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, whereby the contacts l4 and 25 are completely isolated, electrically, from the circuit, and the new fuse link may be applied to said contacts l4 and 25, as has been previously explained herein, without any danger of arcing at the upper contact l4 as the fuse link is applied thereto. When the fuse link has been applied to the contacts 14 and 25 the auxiliary disconnect blade is again closed in on its contacts 29 and 44 and the circuit is re-established through the switch. To operate the switch as a disconnect switch it is necessary, merely, to actuate the auxiliary disconnect blade B to its open and closed positions, as desired, with the aid of a suitable insulated switch stick, the fuse link remaining in its normal fusing position during such operation of the auxiliary disconnect blade.

1. An electrical switch comprising a supporting structure including a current entrance terminal and a current exit terminal arranged in spaced relation, and a member spaced from said current entrance terminal and from said current exit terminal, a contact member supported by said current entrance terminal in electrical 7 contact therewith, a second contact member supported by said member, said second contact memher being provided with a pair ofspaced coiled portions to which spaced portions of said second contact member lead and an outer portion of said second contact member being movable toward and from the first-mentioned contact member, a rupturable fuse link connected to said contact members and serving while intact to prevent said movable outer portion of said second contact member from moving in a direction away from said first-mentioned contact member and on being ruptured permitting such movement of said movable outer portion of said second contact member, and a disconnect blade supported adjacent to one of its ends by said current exit terminal for such movement that its opposite end portion may be moved between and in contact with said spaced portions of said second contact member, and out of contact with said spaced portions of said second contact member.

2. An electrical switch comprising a supporting structure including a current entrance ter minal and a current exit terminal arranged in spaced relation, and a member spaced from said current entrance terminal and from said cur rent exit terminal, a contact member supported by said current entrance terminal in electrical contact therewith, a second contact member supported by said member, said second contact member being provided with a pair of spaced coiled portions to which spaced portions of said second contact member lead and an outer portion of said second contact member being movable toward and from the first-mentioned contact member, a rupturable fuse link connected to said contact members and serving while intact to prevent said movable outer portion of said second contact member from moving in a direction away from said first-mentioned contact member and on being ruptured permitting such movement of said movable outer portion of said second contact member, and a disconnect blade supported adjacent to one of its ends by said current exit terminal for such movement that its opposite end portion may be moved between and in contact with said spaced portions of said second contact members, and out of contact with said spaced portions of said second contact members, the end portion of said disconnect'blade which moves between said spaced portions of said second contact members being provided by spaced resilient portions which make pressure contact with the said spaced portions of said second contact member.

3. An electrical switch comprising a supporting structure including a current entrance terminal and a current exit terminal arranged in spaced relation, and a member spaced from said current entrance terminal and from said current exit terminal, a contact member supported by said current entrance terminal in electrical contact therewith, a second contact member supported by said member, said second contact member being provided with a pair of spaced coiled portions to which spaced portions of said second contact member lead and an outer portion of said second contact member being movable toward and from the first-mentioned contact member, a rupturable fuse link connected to said contact members and serving while intact to prevent said movable outer portion of said second contact member from moving in a direction away from said first-mentioned contact member and on being ruptured permitting such movement of said movable outer portion of said second contact member, a disconnect blade supported adjacent to one of its ends by said current exit terminal for such movement that its opposite end portion may be moved between and in contact with said spaced portions of said second contact member and out of contact with said spaced portions of said second contact member, and a contact supported by said current exit terminal with which said disconnect blade is adapted to contact when said disconnect blade is moved to its closed. position.

4. An electrical switch comprising a supporting structure including a current entrance terminal and a current exit terminal arranged in spaced relation, and a member spaced from said current entrance terminal and from said current exit terminal, a contact member supported by said current entrance terminal in electrical contact therewith, a second contact member supported by said member, said second contact member being provided with a pair of spaced coiled portions to which spaced portions of said second contact member lead and an outer portion of said second contact member being movable toward and from the first-mentioned contact member, a rupturable fuse link connected to said contact members and serving while intact to prevent said movable outer portion of said second contact member from moving in a direction away from said first-mentioned contact member and on being ruptured permitting such movement of said movable outer portion of said second contact member, a disconnect blade supported adjacent to one of its ends by said current exit terminal for such movement that its opposite end portion may be moved between and in contact with said spaced portions of said second contact member and out of contact with said spaced portions of said second contact member, and a contact supported by said current exit terminal with which said disconnect blade is adapted to contact when said disconnect blade is moved to its closed position, said contact being formed from a length of resilient material shaped to provide opposed portions between and into contact with which said disconnect blade moves.

5. An electrical switch comprising a supporting structure including a current entrance terminal and a current exit terminal arranged in spaced relation, and a member spaced from said current entrance terminal and from said current exit terminal, a contact member support-ed by said current entrance terminal in electrical contact therewith, a second contact member supported by said member, said second contact member being provided with a pair of spaced coiled portions to which spaced portions of said second contact member lead and an outer portion of said second contact member being movable toward and from the first-mentioned contact member, a rupturable fuse link connected to said contact members and serving while intact to prevent said movable outer portion of said second contact member from moving in a direction away from said first-mentioned contact member and on being ruptured permitting such movement of said movable outer portion of said second contact member, a disconnect blade supported adjacent to one of its ends by said current exit terminal for such movement that its opposite end portion may be moved between and in contact with said spaced portions of said second contact member, and out of com tact with said spaced portions of said second contact member, and a contact supported by said current exit terminal with which said disconnect blade is adapted to contact when said disconnect blade is moved to its closed position, said contact being formed from a length of resilient material shaped to provide opposed inclined portions between and into contact with which said disconnect blade moves.

6. An electrical switch comprising a, supporting structure including a current entrance terminal and a current exit terminal arranged in spaced relation, and a member spaced from said current entrance terminal and from said current exit terminal, a contact member supported by said current entrance terminal in electrical contact therewith, a second contact member supported by said member, said second contact member being provided with a pair of spaced coiled portions to which spaced portions of said second contact member lead and an outer portion of said contact member being movable toward and from the first-mentioned contact member, a rupturable fuse link connected to said contact members and serving while intact to prevent said movable outer portion oi said second contact member from moving in adirection away from said firstmentioned contact member and on being ruptured permitting such movement of said movable outer portion of said second contact member, a 30 2,272,463

disconnect blade supported adjacent to one of its ends by said current exit terminal for such movement that its opposite end portion may be moved between and in contact with said spaced portions of said second contact member, and out of contact with said spaced portions of said second contact member, and a contact supported by said current exit terminal with which said disconnect blade is adapted to contact when said disconnect blade is moved to its closed position, said contact being formed from a length of resilient material shaped to provide opposed inclined portions between and into contact with which said disconnect blade moves and parts of said opposed inclined portions of said contact being adapted to be spread apart by movement therebetween of said disconnect blade so as to obtain pressure contact between said contact parts and said disconnect blade.

CHARLES ADIN FOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,173,791 Frye Feb. 29, 1916 2,086,028 Heinrich et al July 6, 1937 2,240,260 Hart Apr. 29, 1941 Heinrich Feb. 10, 1942 

